Customize - Urban Dictionary Store

Pro Customization

Create unique products with your own words and definitions

Preview

Personalize Your Design

Your Word

Your Definition

'Boffo' refers to a tool for creating illusion, specifically to propagandise a position of power. It originates from Terry Pratchett's book "Wintersmith", where Tiffany, an apprentice witch to the ancient Miss Treason, discovers that stuck to the bottom of a skull she is dusting is a price tag from Boffo's Magic Shop, completely destroying her illusion that the skull is authentic human remains. She then finds a Boffo Magic Shop catalogue and discovers that Miss Treason's spooky house is in fact peppered with props from Boffo's, right down to the purple wart on the end of her mistress's nose.

Rather than being motivated by an act of self-aggrandisement, however, Miss Treason understands that her villagers need her to fulfil the role of the all-powerful witch in order to wield the authority required to settle disputes and keep everyone in line. 'Boffo' is way of creating the illusion that everyone needs for village life to remain peaceful.

In a nutshell, 'boffo' can be thought of as anything that acts as a social [marketing tool] to change perception. [Everything] from company logos to uniforms to lipstick creates a [particular], often illusory, version of reality, and could be called boffo. Sometimes this even serves a purpose beyond [personal gain]. The [white coat] of the doctor is a good example - it serves as a symbol of medical authority and in the past has helped people accept the role of the doctor as expert.

Text fits

Menu

Pro Customization

Preview

Personalize Your Design

Shopping Assistant